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A Wild Field Trip

And here it was. The day of the field trip. And I'm not even on good terms with Naledi. Getting ready for the day went as it does normally. When I leave my house for the bus stop I see Naledi on my way there. I'm about twenty paces behind her. "Naledi!" I shout, trying to get her attention. But I see her head drop a little. She still isn't thrilled to see me. Great. I start running to her, her pace quickes a little, but not enough to outrun me. "Naledi. Please, listen." her head turns to mine in a nod of acknowledgment. "I am so, so sorry. For everything yesterday morning. I was a complete jerk, and you don't deserve that. And you are allowed to be mad for as long as you need." I try to do the therapeutic voice that Naledi uses a lot. "We can talk when you're ready, okay?"

"It's just hard." she mutters.

"What specifically is hard?"

"I always try to help you, and you always seem to push me away, and I don't know how to help anymore because I have failed at protecting you, and it's just..." she trails off. I've never seen her this vulnerable before.

"Just what?" I prompt.

"It's just hard being a lesbian with all of this pressure to be perfect." She's a lesbian too? I wrap her in a tight hug and she hugs me back tightly. "Why don't you hate me? You should."

I hold her even tighter and whisper in her ear, "Because I'm a lesbian too." What did I just do?! Why did I tell her that? I'm such an idiot. I pull her out of the hug and put both of my hands on her shoulders. "Now, let's not miss the bus." She gives me a quick nod and we head off the rest of the way to the bus stop. If we would have stayed much longer, as the bus came only a couple of minutes after we got there. We let all of the teenage boys get on first, and then we get on last. We sit in our usual spots and listen to music on our way to school.

Persephone was looking grouchier than normal. She didn't even say anything to me, or anyone for that matter, when she came in. Not to mention that she was wearing her jean jacket, instead of tying it around her waist. Something had to be up. The first ten minutes of the day go by quickly, and when the Mr. Stewart, our science teacher, sees the bus to the planetarium, we (the students and the chaperones) get on quickly. Naledi and I sit together, of course.

The bus ride is about thirty minutes, so we have a lot of time to explore the planetarium. We notice that one of the chaperones looks very similar to Persephone, but I don't think about it much. I was too busy being so relieved that Naledi and I got into the same group. Even if Persephone was in it too, we would be together and could lag a bit behind if we need. Once we got there we were split into our assigned groups, and what do you know, that chaperone is Persephone's mom. And she seems very nice.

We get toured around by Persephone's mom, who I just found out is Mrs. Bell. Persephone asks a question, "Can I go to the bathroom?" Oh no.

"Sure, just take a buddie with you." Mrs. Bell says kindly.

"Nova, will you be my b-buddie?" I can see a dark look in her eyes. I freeze, not wanting to be rude, but also know what will come out of going to the 'bathroom' with her. "Well?" she says in a louder voice.

"Persephone, don't be so rude, ask someone else." Mrs. Bell says in a gentle, yet stern tone. Persephone glares at her mother.

"No thank you. I want to go with Nova. Now." She grabs my arm tightly, and I try to pull away but I can't. Naledi grabs Persephone's arm that is holding me, and digs her nails into her arm.

"Let go of her." Naledi says in a stern and powerful voice.

"Not now, calm down you two. Persephone, let go of Nova. Naledi, let go of Persephone. I don't see why my daughter is so sure that she must go with Nova but as long as I don't see Nova being dragged back by the arm, I must let you two go. Be kind to each other." I reluctantly follow Persephone, but my arm is grabbed by Naledi.